Cubic parabola and clothoid are both transition curves used between circular curves in transportation design. However, clothoid is preferable to cubic parabola as it is a true spiral with linear curvature variation along its length. In contrast, cubic parabola assumes approximations that are only valid for small deviation angles. Clothoid allows for longer, smoother transitions that enhance passenger comfort compared to cubic parabola which produces perceptible lateral jerks at its ends. For these reasons, modern transportation projects increasingly use clothoid rather than cubic parabola, especially for applications with sharp curves like light rail transit in dense urban environments.
Cubic parabola and clothoid are both transition curves used between circular curves in transportation design. However, clothoid is preferable to cubic parabola as it is a true spiral with linear curvature variation along its length. In contrast, cubic parabola assumes approximations that are only valid for small deviation angles. Clothoid allows for longer, smoother transitions that enhance passenger comfort compared to cubic parabola which produces perceptible lateral jerks at its ends. For these reasons, modern transportation projects increasingly use clothoid rather than cubic parabola, especially for applications with sharp curves like light rail transit in dense urban environments.
Cubic parabola and clothoid are both transition curves used between circular curves in transportation design. However, clothoid is preferable to cubic parabola as it is a true spiral with linear curvature variation along its length. In contrast, cubic parabola assumes approximations that are only valid for small deviation angles. Clothoid allows for longer, smoother transitions that enhance passenger comfort compared to cubic parabola which produces perceptible lateral jerks at its ends. For these reasons, modern transportation projects increasingly use clothoid rather than cubic parabola, especially for applications with sharp curves like light rail transit in dense urban environments.
COMPARISON BETWEEN CUBIC PARABOLA AND CLOTHOID TRANSITION CURVE
No. Cubic Parabola Clothoid Source Remark
American Mathematical Society
• A new, simple and
accurate transition Clothoid is sometimes referred to as curve type, for use Cubic Parabola is derived by the ideal transition curve because it is in road and railway making certain assumptions in the a true spiral. It is a transition curve in alignment design - clothoid formulae. It is a simple the form of x=f(l), y=f(l), having as 2 Nikolaos Eliou & function of the form of y=f(x). Cubic main characteristic the linearity of Georgios Kaliabetsos parabola can never turn more than curvature variation versus its length. • Railway 90⁰. Clothoid is spiral which goes round Management and and round Engineering – V Profilidis The calculation required to set out The calculation required to set out • Railway Nowadays, many highway design software are available cubic parabola are more clothoid are complicated by the fact Management and 3 which able do clothoid calculation easily. So, benefit of straightforward since its formulae that some of its formulae involve Engineering – V simple calculation provided by cubic parabola is insignificant. do not involve infinite series. infinite series. Profilidis CUBIC PARABOLA is not a true spiral and should only be used where the deviation angle (φ) is less than approximately 12⁰. In Clothoid is true spiral it doesn’t use Since LRT build under limited land, it is common to have cubic parabola three assumptions any assumptions like those applied on Surveying for Engineers - 4 sharp curve with great value of deviation angle. This makes are made during derivation of the cubic parabola, which results on no J. Uren, W.F. Price usage of cubic parabola is not ideal. cubic parabola formulae: limitation of deviation angle. • The second and subsequent terms in the expansion of sin φ and cos φ are neglected as COMPARISON BETWEEN CUBIC PARABOLA AND CLOTHOID TRANSITION CURVE
being too small – the validity of
this will depend on value of φ • Tan δ is assumed to equal δ radians. Since δ=φ/3 the validity of this will also depend on the value of φ • The length along tangent is assumed to equal the length along the curve (y=l). Again, the value of φ will be critical to the validity of this, since greater deviation, the less likely is assumption to be true.
A new, simple and
The use of the cubic parabola is accurate transition curve acceptable only for small values of type, for use in road and transition curve length. When the Clothoid formulae able to provide With longer transition, curve becomes smoother and it 5 railway alignment design length of the transition curve greater length of transition. would enhance passenger’s comfort and allowable speed. - Nikolaos Eliou & exceeds a certain limit, it could Georgios Kaliabetsos obtain a “flatter” alignment. The true radius of curvature at the curved end of cubic parabola is less Lateral jerk which could be exist when using cubic parabola than clothoid, it allows higher value The true radius of curvature at the Understanding Track could be serious as radius diminishes. . For this reason it is 6 of cant. Instantaneous change of curved end of clothoid is more than Engineering -Permanent recommended that in designing sharply curve track, and/or radius between circular and cubic parabola Way Institution nonballasted, the clothoid calculation should be used. transition can result in perceptible lateral jerk. There will be amendment when Rules developed for dealing with Greater LRT is located in densely populated area and realignment done using chord and transition curves by the chords and Understanding Track intersects with many external parties, so repeated 7 versine method, the transition versine method in realignment can be Engineering -Permanent realignment is uncommon. It would be big hassle if curve will actually be a clothoid not used without amendments on layouts Way Institution amendment continuously done because of realignment if cubic parabola. designed using clothoid. cubic parabola was used. REFERENCE OF CLOTHOID USAGE IN OTHER PROJECTS